Energy Accumulating Actuator

ABSTRACT

A device for storing and converting chemical energy into controlled mechanical motion requires that chemical energy is released through ignition and stored in an accumulator. When a release valve is activated the stored energy is used to move a piston and push-rod arrangement, which can be used to actuate certain power tools.

DEFINITIONS

The words “comprising”, “having”, “containing”, and “including” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an Energy Accumulating Actuator.

Currently available are piston accumulators designed to store and release energy generated from external sources. The external power sources are generally expensive, heavy and cumbersome. Example of such devices are disclosed by Ashton (U.S. Pat. No. 2,365,994), Elmer; Adam (U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,734) and Weber; Norbert (U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,215).

Currently available are devices that use chemical energy to provide power for certain tasks such as the internal combustion engine or powder actuated tools an example being Temple (U.S. Pat. No. 1,365,869). These devices do not store energy.

Currently available are energy storage devices such as batteries which can power tools but which are limited in power. The background of the invention stems from the desire to provide an instantly chargeable, lightweight, hand held and extremely powerful method for mechanical actuation.

SUMMARY

This device and method has one or more of the features depicted in the embodiments discussed in the section entitled “DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS.” The claim or claims that follow define this device and method in terms that distinguish it from the prior art and point out its non-obviousness characteristics; however, without limiting the scope of this invention as expressed by these claims, in general terms, some, but not necessarily all, of the features are:

One, this device is for storing and converting chemical energy into controlled mechanical motion. The device consisting of a barrel with two end to end chambers with a mechanically activated release valve between the chambers. One chamber is for storing released chemical energy and is the chemical chamber. The chemical chamber has a piston inside. The second chamber is the actuation chamber. The actuation chamber contains a piston and push-rod arrangement called the push-rod. The piston separates the chemical energy from a elastically compressible and expansible gas that fills the sealed space between the piston and the push-rod. The end of the barrel, at the stored energy chamber side, is sealed by the chemical plug that allows for insertion and ignition of a chemical that can provide explosive energy. The end of the barrel at the actuation chamber side is sealed and contains a hole to allow for the push-rod to extend beyond the end of the actuation chamber. After ignition of the chemical the piston compresses the gas between the piston and the release valve. When the release valve is activated via an external actuation lever the compressed gas causes the actuator to extend beyond the front end of the barrel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a first embodiment of an Energy Accumulating Actuator according to our new design shown in the non-actuated position.

FIG. 2 is a top front perspective view of the invention shown in the actuated position.

FIG. 3 is a top rear perspective view of the invention shown in the non-actuated position.

FIG. 4 is a top rear perspective view of the invention shown in the actuated position.

FIG. 5 is a top front perspective cross sectional view of the invention shown in the non-actuated position.

FIG. 6 is a top front perspective cross sectional break-away view of the invention showing the piston and push-rod removed.

FIG. 7 is a top front perspective cross sectional view of the invention shown in the actuated position.

FIG. 8 is a top front perspective view of the invention in which the embodiments of the invention can be utilized to power a cutting device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 discloses the Energy Accumulating Actuator 10. This device comprising a rear chamber assembly 11, a front chamber assembly 12, a handle 13 and an actuating lever 14. The end of the push-rod 15 is shown.

FIG. 2 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 20. The actuating lever 21 and push-rod 22 are shown in the actuated position.

FIG. 3 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 30. At the rear of the device is a chemical ignition unit 31 which consists typically, but not exclusively, of a mechanical or electronic ignition device.

FIG. 4 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 40.

FIG. 5 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 50. The chemical chamber 51 is sealed by the chemical plug 52. The chemical plug 52 allows for chemical insertion and ignition to the chemical chamber through the chemical insertion and ignition port 53. The piston 54 separates the chemical energy from a gas. The release valve 55 allows the compressed gas access to the piston and push-rod assembly 56. A push-rod return spring 57 is used to return the piston and push-rod assembly 56 to the non-actuated position after the chemical residue is released.

FIG. 6 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 60. The piston 61, piston and push-rod assembly 62 and a push-rod return spring 63 are shown removed for clarity.

FIG. 7 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 70. The actuating lever 71, push-rod 72 and push-rod return spring are shown in the actuated position.

FIG. 8 depicts the Energy Accumulating Actuator 80. A cutting device 81 is shown to illustrate one of many tools that can be attached to the device to be actuated. This device falls into several art categories. It would require persons skilled in several arts to be able to invent this device.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

The above presents a description of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the present invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person or persons skilled in several of the arts to which it pertains to make and use this invention. This invention is, however, susceptible to modifications and alternate constructions from that discussed above which are fully equivalent. Consequently, it is not the intention to limit this invention to the particular embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications and alternate constructions coming within the spirit and scope of the invention as generally expressed by the following claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter of the invention: 

1. A device for storing and converting chemical energy into controlled mechanical motion comprising: a barrel with two end to end chambers with a release valve between the chambers, one chamber is the chemical chamber the other is the accumulator chamber. a sealed piston arrangement in the chemical chamber. a sealed cap arrangement at the chemical chamber end of the barrel allows for ingress of chemical, ignition of chemical and egress of spent chemical. a sealed piston and push-rod arrangement in the accumulator chamber. a sealed cap at the accumulator chamber end of the barrel allows for ingress and egress of a push-rod actuator. a elastically compressible and expansible gas filling the void between the piston and push-rod piston separated by the release valve. a method for operating the release valve. ignition of the chemical in the chemical chamber causes a force on the piston to compress the gas separating the piston from the release valve. when the release valve is opened this allows the transfer of energy, stored in the compressed gas, to the piston and push-rod arrangement. 